Movies: Reviews & recommendations.

House of Sand and Fog

"A battle between two hopes is much more vending then a battle between two hatreds."
Synopsis:
A woman is evicted from her home due to owed taxes. The real kicker? It turns out she didn't actually owe the taxes. She doesn't find this out though until the house is already sold at auction to an Iranian general who has fled to America. Determined to at least make a profit off of it so that he can better his family, he stubbornly refuses to sell it back for anything less then it's current value (4X what he bought it for) thinking she was irresponsible and selfish.
The bulk of the movie is the woman trying to get the house back by pursuasion, pleading, and finally intimidation as she feels he's the one being selfish, and how it effects everyone involved. It was full of some powerful scenes, scenery, and emotion. The irony of it all is that once you see both sides, you realize that there really is no clear right or wrong.

Starring:
Ben Kingsley
Jennifer Connelly

Drama

I would have given it 4, but I'm all about the happy movies. Where it was really really good, it just can't be one of my favorites for that reason alone.

[ rent ]

Boogie Nights

Synopsis: 1970's - Guy has large... uhh, talent. Goes into the 'adult films' business. Gets himself into a bit of a mess. You decide if he ever really gets out of it.
Lots of disco, drugs, sex, and people making great inferences about the 80s! Its a fun movie, really humorous, you see a lot of people making really big asses out of themselves, and screwing up their lives once things get going. There's a lot to the adult films business - I mean; they have to like, act and stuff. Mainly just screw, though. C'mon, you knew what it was about... you just wanted to see how I was going to put it.

Ahh, this film brings back memories of highschool. ;)

Gremlins

Synopsis: Mogwai is cute, mogwai ancient Chinese secret. Guy gets Mogwai for son back home. Son breaks the rules... and ancient Chinese secret goes crazy Xmas nuts all over the town. Hence: Gremlins.
...and I need to explain this because...? ...you haven't seen it. Too scared of the too scary little scary things? If you're over 10 - you can handle it, and will laugh. See, there's this great story about this chimney, a little bit after everything starts going nuts... =] You'll forgive me.

Good ol 80s movie, good acting (for an 80s movie), effects are good (for an 80s movie), and its just fun in general. Picture this: Gremlins partying down singing "Hi ho, hi ho..." Watch it, love it, live it... fear your washer going clunk clunk clunk.

SE7EN

Synopsis: Crazy guy likes reading the bible, murders people, each with a deadly sin. Cops hunt after the clues that crazy guy has purposefully left to deliver a message.
Speaking of strong feelings in your stomach, whew... some parts are harsh, but all are articulately dismal and gritty. Great acting, true living of the characters. Its a very dark movie, rainy most of the time (but not all) ...much like The Crow.

The detectives pour over the clues, other complications arise... then things start hitting too close to home.

Its wonderfully written, well directed, and there's much that you might miss if you don't watch it closely.

American Beauty

Synopsis: Guy has life. Guy is effectively dead. Things happen that make guy want to live again. Guy lives again... and effectively dies.
I loved this movie. I had such a strong feeling in my stomach after this one, and tears in my eyes. Watching the relationship between Jane and Ricky evolve, the final confrontations between, well... everyone. It's all so... real. The way Ricky describes the bag is much how I like to think of things, and noticing the beauty in life is where one truly gains the appreciation of living.

The intertwining of homosexuality, self confidence and self image, courage, and true representation of oneself all go so deeply... which I'll refrain from going into detail about because I find it hard to put into words.

Blade II

Whistler is back - he's a vampire, but not for long. Blade finds him after 2 years, busts him out and cleans him up. (The movie will go much easier if you don't ask questions, just sit back and enjoy the action.) Blade II does a good job of distracting you with action, most movies that make you ask questions make the mistake of giving you the time to think about them, not the case with this one.

The vampires have come across an anomaly - a creature that feeds on both vampires and humans. They are stronger, are made slightly different, and aren't as susceptible to the vampire norms. A truce is called and Blade joins with the vampires to hunt the new breed.

Filled with action, incredible effects, plot twists, and unforseeables this sequel out does the original by leaps and bounds. Make sure you've got DTS ES (or the Dolby equivalent, it's got both) for this one, no little beeps or occasional screams from the rear speakers, they're on as well as the bass -- fully -- for this one.

[ rent ]